Method and apparatus for inflating a warming blanket

ABSTRACT

A warming blanket is provided that includes a first sheet and a second sheet sealed at least along a common edge. An air inlet is provided on the warming blanket where the first sheet and the second sheet are not sealed. An inlet opening device is attached to the inlet opening. The inlet opening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening in the absence of an opposing force. Methods of forming and using the warming blanket are also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

The present disclosure is generally related to materials and proceduresfor maintaining patient temperature.

2. Description Of The Related Art

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart that may be related to various aspects of the present invention,which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed tobe helpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

A variety of medical environments are commonly maintained attemperatures well below body temperature to slow microbial growth, tocounter the heat generated by medical lighting or equipment, or forvarious other reasons. For example, operating room temperatures of 65°F. (20° C.) and below are not uncommon. At such temperatures, it may bedifficult to maintain the body temperature of the patient over time,such as over the course of a diagnostic, therapeutic, or surgicalprocedure. To maintain patient temperature, a convective air warmingblanket may be employed in the medical environment. Such a convectiveair warming blanket typically consists of two die cut sheets of materialthat are attached (such as by radio-frequency (RF) or ultra-sonictechniques) along their edges and at numerous internal weld locations.The internal welds limit the loft, i.e., height or thickness, of thewarming blanket when inflated.

After the sheets forming the warming blanket are attached, the warmingblanket may be die cut into the warming blanket's final shape. This diecut process, in which the sheets are cut simultaneously using a singledie, results in their being little or no structural differentiationbetween the two sheets, making it difficult to separate the two sheets,particularly in contexts where gloves are worn or where personnel areoccupied with other tasks. As a result, techniques for inflating thewarming blanket that involve inserting a warm air blowing mechanismbetween the sheets may be difficult to perform, in turn making theinflation of the warming blanket a difficult process.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the originally claimedinvention are set forth below. It should be understood that theseaspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summaryof certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are notintended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention mayencompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

There is provided a warming blanket. The warming blanket includes afirst sheet and a second sheet sealed at least along a common edge suchthat the first sheet and the second sheet define an internal volume whenseparated. An air inlet region is defined by a cutout of the first sheetand the second sheet. The air inlet region is generally sealed along theedges of the first sheet and the second sheet except along an inletopening. An inlet opening device is attached to the inlet opening. Theinlet opening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet atthe inlet opening in the absence of an opposing force

There is also provided a method of forming a warming blanket. The methodincludes the act of sealing a first sheet and a second sheet at leastalong a common edge. The edges of an air inlet region defined by acutout of the first sheet and second sheet are sealed except along aninlet opening of the air inlet region. An inlet opening device isattached to the inlet opening such that the inlet opening deviceseparates the first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening inthe absence of an opposing force.

There is also provided a method of connecting a warming blanket. Themethod includes the act of removing a constraining force from about aninlet opening of a warming blanket such that an inlet opening deviceattached to the inlet opening separates a first sheet from a secondsheet at the inlet opening.

There is further provided a warming assembly. The warming assemblyincludes a warming blanket. The warming blanket includes an inletopening device attached to an inlet opening. The inlet opening deviceseparates a first sheet from a second sheet of the warming blanket atthe inlet opening. The assembly also includes a heated air blower and ahose configured to connect the heated air blower and the inlet opening.

There is also provided an inlet opening device. The inlet opening deviceincludes a substrate configured to be attached to a first sheet and asecond sheet of an inlet opening of a warming blanket. The inlet openingdevice also includes a tensioning member attached to the substrate suchthat the tensioning member deforms the substrate in the absence of anopposing force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the disclosure may be understood by referring, inpart, to the following description and the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference numbers refer to the same or like parts andwherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a warming blanket assembly in accordance with one aspectof the present technique;

FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of a warming blanket in accordance withone aspect of the present technique;

FIG. 3 depicts an air inlet region of the warming blanket of FIG. 2, inaccordance with one aspect of the present technique;

FIG. 4 depicts a port opening device suitable for use with the warmingblanket of FIG. 2, in accordance with one aspect of the presenttechnique;

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of the inlet opening and inletopening device in a closed configuration, in accordance with one aspectof the present technique; and

FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of the inlet opening and inletopening device in an open configuration, in accordance with one aspectof the present technique.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In some embodiments of the present technique, a warming blanket isemployed that allows easy connection to a warm air blower. For example,in one embodiment, the warming blanket is provided with a device tofacilitate the separation of the sheets forming the warming blanket atan air inlet of the warming blanket. In one embodiment, the deviceincludes a strip of cardboard or other suitable material that isconfigured with a tensioning member, such as an elastic strap. In suchan embodiment, when the device is attached to an air inlet of thewarming blanket, the tension provided by the device causes therespective sheets forming the warming blanket to separate, therebycreating an opening in which a warm air delivery mechanism, such as ahose, can be inserted.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a warming assembly 100 isdepicted. In the depicted embodiment, warming assembly 100 includes awarming blanket 102, a heated air blower 104, and hosing 106 connectingthe warming blanket 102 and heated air blower 104. As suggested by itsname, heated air blower 104 produces and expels heated air. Acommercially distributed device suitable for use as heated air blower104 is the WarmTouch® 5200/5300 series of warming units from the Nellcordivision of Tyco Healthcare. For example, in an embodiment of warmingassembly 100 that implements heated air blower 104 with a WarmTouch®5300 warming unit, heated air may be provided to warming blanket 102 atpredefined temperatures of 32° C., 38° C., 43°, or 45° C. In thedepicted embodiment, heated air from heated air blower 104 is providedto warming blanket 102 through the hosing 106 via an entry port or otheropening in warming blanket 102 as described in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of one embodiment of the warmingblanket 102 is depicted. In one embodiment, the warming blanket 102includes a first sheet 108 bonded or otherwise attached to a secondsheet 110 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). In one implementation of the warmingblanket 102, the first sheet 108 is a polyester material while thesecond sheet 110 is a polypropylene. In an embodiment of the warmingblanket 102 suitable for use in a surgical environment, the warmingblanket 102 is approximately 150 to 220 centimeters long approximately90 to 150 centimeters wide.

In certain embodiments, the warming blanket 102 may be constructed usinga die that cuts the first sheet 108 and the second sheet 110simultaneously so that the shape of the first sheet 108 coincides withthe shape of the second sheet 110. In such an embodiment, an airtightseal 112 may be formed along the perimeter of the first and secondsheets 108 and 110 such that heated air entering the warming blanket 102cannot exit along the perimeter of the warming blanket 102. Instead, theheated air blown into the warming blanket 102 exits via air openings 114that are disposed (such as in an array) on at least one surface of thewarming blanket 102.

In some embodiments, the perimeter seal 112 is formed by applyinglocalized heat to the first and second sheets 108 and 110 when thesheets are aligned and in contact with one another. In some of theseembodiments, the localized heat causes the fusion of the materialsforming the first and second sheets 108 and 110. In other embodiments,the localized heat causes the fusion of a coating or film (such as apolyethylene coating or film) applied to one or both of the first andsecond sheets 108 and 110. In such an embodiment, the coating or film,when heated, fuses with the material forming the other sheet or with alike coating or film disposed on the other sheet. Such an embodiment maybe useful where the compositions of the first and second sheet are noteasily fusible themselves but are each fusible with the film or coatingcomposition, such as polyethylene.

Furthermore, some embodiments of the warming blanket 102 may include anarray of weld points 116. The weld points 116 may be formed in the samemanner as the perimeter seal 112, such as by the localized applicationof heat when the surfaces of the first and second sheets are in contact.As with the perimeter seal 112, the materials forming the first andsecond sheets 108 and 110 may fuse directly or a film or coating on thesheets, such as the aforementioned polyethylene coating, may be fused toform the weld points 116. The weld points 116 serve to control the loftor range of separation of the first and second sheets 108 and 110 whenthe warming blanket 102 is inflated.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the warming blanket 102 includes an air inletregion 120. The air inlet region 120 is generally sealed along the edgesby an inlet seal 122 that circumscribes most but not the entire airinlet region 120. The portion of the air inlet region 120 that is notsealed is the inlet opening 124. For example, referring to theembodiment depicted in FIG. 3, inlet seal 122 terminates at the edges ofthe inlet opening 124, allowing the first and second sheet 108 and 110of the warming blanket 102 to be separated at the inlet opening 124.Separation of the first and second sheet 108 and 110 at the inletopening 124 results in the inlet opening 124 being opened such that ahose (such as hose 106 of FIG. 1) or nozzle may be inserted into theinlet opening 124.

FIG. 3 also depicts an embodiment of an inlet opening device 130 thatacts to open the inlet opening 124 in the absence of an opposing force.In the depicted embodiment, the inlet opening device 130 partiallysurrounds the inlet opening 124 and is attached to the inlet opening 124along the length of the opening device 130 or at specific locations. Theembodiment of inlet opening device 130 depicted in FIG. 3 circumscribesa majority, but not all, of the inlet opening 124 formed by the unsealededges of first and second sheets 108 and 110. In other implementations,the inlet opening device 130 may fully circumscribe inlet opening 124.

In one embodiment, the inlet opening device 130 (depicted in greaterdetail in FIG. 4) includes a tensioning member 132, such as an elasticband or other bias providing component, attached to a substrate 134,such as a strip of rigid or semi-rigid paper, cardboard, metal and/orplastic material. In one embodiment, the tensioning member 132 is aone-eighth inch thick elastic band. In the depicted embodiment, thetensioning member 132 is fastened to the substrate by mechanicalfasteners, such as the depicted staples 136. In other embodiments, thetensioning member 132 may be attached to the substrate 134 by othermeans, such as adhesives, or by other chemical and/or mechanicalattachment mechanisms. When so attached, the tensioning member 132applies a biasing force to the substrate 134 that acts to bend or deformthe substrate 134 in the absence of an opposing force. In oneembodiment, substrate 134 is scored at predetermined fold locations 138near its ends so that the bias provided by tensioning member 132 causessubstrate 134 to fold where scored.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, for example, one embodiment of inlet openingdevice 130 includes four fold locations 140. In the depicted embodiment,the inlet opening device 130 is attached to the first and second sheets108 and 110 at the inlet opening 124. The inlet opening device 130 maybe attached to the inlet opening 124 using an adhesive 140 or glue or byother suitable attachment mechanisms. In the depicted implementation,the central portion of inlet opening device 130 is affixed to firstsheet 108 while end portions of inlet opening device 130 are affixed tosecond sheet 110.

As depicted in FIG. 5, in the present of an opposing force, depicted asforce arrows 142, the tensioning member 132 does not deform thesubstrate 134 of the inlet opening device 130 and, thus, does not causethe inlet opening 124 to open. In one embodiment, an opposing force ofthe type depicted by force arrows 142 may be provided by packagingwithin which the warming blanket 102 is packed or stored. Upon removalfrom the packaging, however, the opposing force is removed and, asdepicted in FIG. 6, the tensioning member 132 can deform the substrate134 of the inlet opening device 130, causing the inlet opening 124 toopen without additional user intervention. For example, in theembodiment depicted in FIG. 6, unopposed tension in tensioning member132 causes the substrate 134 of the inlet opening device 130 to bend orotherwise deform at fold locations 138. The attachment of substrate 134to the first and second sheets 108 and 110 causes the first and secondsheets 108 and 110 to separate at the inlet opening 124, thus openingthe inlet opening 124. Thus, in one embodiment, by simply removing thewarming blanket 102 from its packaging (or otherwise removing aconstraining force), the inlet opening 124 is opened without furtheruser intervention, allowing the user to insert hosing 106, or anotherwarm air blowing mechanism, into the opened inlet opening 124.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and have been described in detail herein.However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended tobe limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention isto cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingappended claims.

1. A warming blanket, comprising: a first sheet and a second sheetsealed at least along a common edge such that the first sheet and thesecond sheet define an internal volume when separated; an air inletregion defined by a cutout of the first sheet and the second sheet,wherein the air inlet region is generally sealed along the edges of thefirst sheet and the second sheet except along an inlet opening; and aninlet opening device attached to the inlet opening, wherein the inletopening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet at theinlet opening in the absence of an opposing force.
 2. The blanket ofclaim 1, wherein the first sheet comprises a polypropylene sheet and thesecond sheet comprises polyester.
 3. The blanket of claim 1, wherein theinlet opening device comprises a substrate and a tensioning memberattached to the substrate.
 4. The blanket of claim 3, wherein thesubstrate comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material.
 5. The blanket ofclaim 3, wherein the substrate comprises at least one of a paper,cardboard, metal, or plastic composition.
 6. The blanket of claim 3,wherein the tensioning member comprises an elastic material.
 7. Theblanket of claim 3, wherein the substrate comprises one or more foldlocations where the substrate is predisposed to bend when tension isapplied to the substrate by the tensioning member.
 8. The blanket ofclaim 1, comprising a heated air blower and a hose configured to connectthe heated air blower to the inlet opening.
 9. A method of forming awarming blanket, comprising: sealing a first sheet and a second sheet atleast along a common edge; sealing the edges of an air inlet regiondefined by a cutout of the first sheet and second sheet except along aninlet opening of the air inlet region; and attaching an inlet openingdevice to the inlet opening such that the inlet opening device separatesthe first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening in theabsence of an opposing force.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein theinlet opening device comprises a substrate and a tensioning memberattached to the substrate.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein attachingthe inlet opening device to the inlet opening comprises attaching theinlet opening device about a majority of the inlet opening.
 12. A methodof connecting a warming blanket, comprising: removing a constrainingforce from about an inlet opening of a warming blanket such that aninlet opening device attached to the inlet opening separates a firstsheet from a second sheet at the inlet opening.
 13. The method of claim12, comprising inserting an end of a hose between the first sheet andthe second sheet at the inlet opening.
 14. The method of claim 12,comprising blowing warm air between the separated first sheet and secondsheet at the inlet opening.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein removingthe constraining force comprises removing the warming blanket from apackage.
 16. A warming assembly, comprising: a warming blanket,comprising an inlet opening device attached to an inlet opening, whereinthe inlet opening device separates a first sheet from a second sheet ofthe warming blanket at the inlet opening; a heated air blower; and ahose configured to connect the heated air blower and the inlet opening.17. The warming assembly of claim 16, wherein the inlet opening devicecomprises a substrate and a tensioning member attached to the substrate.18. The warming assembly of claim 16, wherein the substrate comprisesone or more fold locations where the substrate is predisposed to bendwhen tension is applied to the substrate by the tensioning member. 19.An inlet opening device, comprising: a substrate configured to beattached to a first sheet and a second sheet of an inlet opening of awarming blanket; and a tensioning member attached to the substrate suchthat the tensioning member deforms the substrate in the absence of anopposing force.
 20. The inlet opening device of claim 19, wherein thesubstrate comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material.
 21. The inletopening device of claim 19, wherein the substrate comprises at least oneof a paper, cardboard, metal, or plastic composition.
 22. The inletopening device of claim 19, wherein the tensioning member comprises anelastic material.
 23. The inlet opening device of claim 19, wherein thesubstrate comprises one or more fold locations where the substrate ispredisposed to bend when tension is applied to the substrate by thetensioning member.